Patron Saint – St Clare

BACKGROUND & LIFE:
Clare was born on July 16, 1194, in Assisi, Italy to an esteemed family, a count and a countess. Her father, Favarone, was a knight and died very early on. Thus she was left in the care of her mother. She was renowned as humble, merciful, charming, optimistic and chivalrous. Clare was deeply inspired by the profound words of Saint Francis of Assisi, whilst he preached in the streets. She shared her desire to live for God with him and they became close friends. On Palm Sunday, 1212, Clare received a palm from the Bishop, and she believed this was her sign from God. Hence, she and her cousin, Pacifica de Guelfuccio of Assisi decided to run away from her mother’s home. She eventually took the veil of a religious order from Francis at the Church of Our Lady of the Angels in Assisi.

As she pursued this call from God, Clare spent time at various convents including the Benedictine nuns of San Palos near Bastia, San Angelo in Panzo. Later on, Clare founded the Order of Poor Ladies (Poor Clares) in San Damiano and was the chief coordinator for 40 years. Similar to the Franciscans, they mirrored their total abandonment into God’s hands to provide their needs and depended on the generosity of others. Clare’s life revolved around evangelical poverty and asceticism. Additionally, Clare and Francis of Assisi referred to themselves and followers as people, “doing penance.” Clare, in her Testament, explains that God moved her heart to “do penance according to the example and teaching of our most blessed father Francis.” Thus, she aligned herself to this lifestyle.

Later on, Clare’s younger sister, Agnes (St. Agnes of Assisi), her youngest sister Beatrix (Blessed), her mother Ortolana (Blessed) and her faithful Aunt Bianca, all joined the work. Additionally, she lived to see the foundation of monasteries spread wide throughout Europe.

Clare had a great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. She daily contemplated and meditated on the Passion and even memorized the Office of the Passion composed by Saint Francis. Once, when her convent was threatened with the possibility of an attack, she displayed the Sacrament in a monstrance at the convent gates and prayed before it, the attackers retreated. Additionally, she was a great confidant of Francis.

As her life was coming to an end, her health deteriorated. She was unable to attend mass, so an image of the service would be displayed on the wall of her cell, thus her patronage of television. Clare died on August 11, 1253. It is said that St. Francis led her to the light.

PATRONAGE:
• Embroiderers
• Eye Disease, eyes
• Gilders
• Goldsmiths
• Gold Workers
• Good weather
• Laundry workers
• Needle workers
• Santa Clara Indian pueblo
• Telegraphs, telephones, television, television writers

CANONIZED: September, 26, 1255 by Pope Alexander IV.

REPRESENTATION: Monstrance, woman with a monstrance in her hand.

ST CLARE PRAYER:
O God, whose blessed Son became poor that we through his poverty might be rich. 

Deliver us, we pray thee, from an inordinate love of this world, 

that inspired by the devotion of thy servant Clare, 

we may serve thee with singleness of heart, 

and attain to the riches of the age to come; 

through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth with thee, 

in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.